Fire detection and alarm systems



June 9, 1959 P. w. SMITH 2,839,798

' FIRE DETECTION AND ALARM SYSTEMS Filed March '7, 1958 2 ets-Sheet 1INVEN Ffia/ga m 553%. 7%

ATTORNEY June 9, 1959 P. w. SMITH 2,889,798

FIRE DETECTION AND ALARM SYSTEMS Filed March 7; 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 MBY ATTORNEY 2,889,798 Fun; DETECTION AND ALARM SYSTEMS Philip W. Smith,Philadelphia, Pa.

Application March 7, 1958, Serial No. 719,962

3 Claims. (Cl. 116-103) The object of this invention is to devise anovel fire detection and alarm system for the protection of lives andproperty in homes, shops and commercial establishments which willeliminate maintainance costs and which is not dependent on electricalwiring or an electrical source of power.

A further object of the invention is to devise a fire detection andalarm system which will be automatically controlled by the force againstwhich protection is desired.

A further object of the invention is to devise a novel alarm or signal,novel water powered actuating means for said alarm or signal, noveltriggering mechanism and novel heat detecting means for automaticallycontrolling said triggering means.

With the foregoing and other objects in view as will hereinafter clearlyappear, my invention comprehends novel fire detecting and alarm systems.

It further comprehends a novel fire alarm, a novel water powered motorfor actuating said fire alarm, novel trigger mechanism controlling saidmotor, novel heat detecting means for controlling said triggermechanism, and a novel construction and arrangement of the componentparts of the system.

For the purpose of illustrating the invention, I have shown in theaccompanying drawings a preferred embodiment of it which I have found,in practice, to give satisfactory and reliable results. It is, however,to be understood that the various instrumentalities of which theinvention consists can be variously arranged and organized, and theinvention is not limited, except by the scope of the appended claims, tothe exact arrangement and organization of these instrumentalities asherein set forth.

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a fire detection and alarm system,embodying my invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevation, viewed from the right hand side of Figure1.

Figure 3 is a side elevation, viewed from the left hand side of Figure1.

Figure 4 is a schematic view of a building showing locations of heatdetectors and tubing of the heat detecting system.

Figure 5 is a face view of one of the heat detecting units.

Figure 6 is a side elevation of Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a sectional view of a valve controlled by the triggermechanism and controlling the motor.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts.

Referring to the drawings.

The alarm unit A panel 1 has a hell 2 mounted on it, and the strikingpower for sound is provided by a bell clapper 3 pivotally mounted nearone end on a shaft 4 of a water powered motor 5. The motor 5 is mountedin a housing 6 into which water under pressure is introduced through aninlet pipe 7 leading from a source of water supply and United States lfaterirt having a jet 8 through which water is projected-against theblades of the motor to revolve the motor. The motor housing 6 has adischarge pipe 9 and an air vent 10.

The passage of water under pressure to the jetr8 is controlled by avalve mechanism 11 having an inlet and an outlet with a valve seat 12. Aspring 13 normally maintains a valve 14 against said seat and the seatis mounted on a threaded plug 15 secured in the body portion of thevalve mechanism. The plug is apertured to communicate with the outlet ofthe valve mechanism. A valve plunger 16 is longitudinally movable in theplug and extends into a recess 17 in the valve 14.

The trigger mechanism A spring housing 18 contains a spring 19 whichcontacts a trigger 20 tending to move the trigger downwardly. Thetrigger bears against the upper end of the valve plunger 16 and isoffset as at 21 and is provided with a handle 22 to provide for themanual resetting of the trigger. The tension of the spring can beadjusted by a cap 20 threaded on the spring housing 18. The trigger 20rides on the periphery of a trigger control member in the form of aplate 23 pivotally mounted at its lower end as at 24 on a sub-panel 25connected with the panel 1. The trigger plate 23 has a slot 26 openingthrough its upper end and into which the trigger can extend when theslot registers with the trigger.

A bellows 27 has one end connected with the trigger plate at one side ofthe pivot of the plate, the bellows being mounted on the sub-panel 25. Acounter spring 28 bears at one end against a bracket 29 on the triggerplate at the opposite side of the pivotal point of the trigger plate,and at its opposite end the spring bears against an adjusting screw 30on a bracket 31 fixed on the subpanel 25.

The heat detecting system The bellows 27 forms a part of the heatdetecting system and is in series with tubing 32 having heat detectingunits located therein as at 33. These heat detecting units 33 are formedof helically wound tubing having straps 34 to maintain formation. Theheat detecting units are installed at ceiling heights in rooms, closetsor areas to be protected and in the path of possible drafts such as overdoors, stairwells etc. The system is filled with ether at 2 poundspressure at room temperature, 7080 F., and then hermetically sealed.

The counter pressure spring 28 and its adjusting screw allow foradjustable trip-off points of pressure from the heat detecting system.Trip-off settings may be obtained from F. to 170 F., the average settingbeing F.

The operation is as follows:

When heat is applied to any heat detecting unit or to any six linealfeet of tubing, pressure is built up within the system to cause thebellows 27 to expand and impart a clockwise movement to the triggerplate 23 until the slot 26 registers with the trigger 20 whereupon thespring 19 will move the trigger downwardly and the plunger 16 will openthe valve. Water under pressure will pass to the motor 5 to revolve it.As the motor attains speed, ghel bell clapper 3 will swing into positionto strike the The trigger is reset by moving the handle 22 upwardly.

A pressure gauge 35 connected in the tubing indicates that the hermeticseal of the heat detection system is maintained, and can also be usedfor testing purposes.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

l. A fire and alarm system, comprising a heat detecting device includingan enclosure containing a heat expandable gas, a trigger mechanismoperatively connected to said detecting device, a fluid head conduit, amotor in 3 said conduit, an alarm operated by said motor and a valve insaid conduit operatively associated with said trigger mechanism wherebywhen said trigger mechanism is actuated in response to rise intemperature of said enclosure said valve will be operated to operatesaid motor and control said alarm.

2. A fire and alarm system, comprising a heat detecting device includingan enclosure containing a heat expandable gas, a trigger mechanismoperatively connected to said detecting device and including a pivotallysupported trigger plate having a slot opening through its periphery, aspring pressed trigger riding on the periphery of'said trigger plate andmovable into said slot when in alignment with such slot, a fluid headconduit, a motor in said conduit, an alarm actuated by said motor, and avalve in said conduit having a stem in the path of said trigger, wherebywhen said trigger mechanism is actu ated in response to rise intemperature of said enclosure said valve will be operated to operatesaid motor and control said alarm.

3. A fire and alarm system, comprising a heat detecting device includingan enclosure containing a heat expandable gas, a trigger mechanismoperatively connected to said detecting device, a fluid head conduit, amotor in said conduit having a rotor, a rotor shaft and a bell clapperpivotally connected at one end to said shaft, an alarm having a bell inthe path of said bell clapper to be actuated thereby, and a valve insaid conduit operatively connected with said trigger mechanism wherebywhen said trigger mechanism is actuated in response to rise intemperature of said enclosure said valve will be operated to operatesaid motor and control said alarm.

Nevins et a1. June 13, 1876 Marklund Apr. 14, 1931

